Ted Sarneso stories, Page 6
Hampton girls weather season’s ups, downs to make another playoff appearance
There weren’t many expectations levied upon the Hampton girls basketball team coming into the 2024-25 season. After making it to the playoffs as a No. 15 seed last season and playing No. 2 seed McKeesport tight in a 49-46 loss, the Talbots came into this season having lost all-time leading...
Springdale boys return to postseason looking to ‘make some magic’
When Scott Ruppert took over the Springdale boys basketball team three weeks before the season started, the first thing he did was reach out to his players and provide them each with a goal sheet. Every one of his seniors wrote the same goal: make it to the playoffs. “That...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Kiski Area’s Paige Kunkle
When asked where her medals were from the WPIAL championships last year, when the Kiski Area girls swim team was Class 2A champion, senior Paige Kunkle wasn’t sure. “I honestly don’t know,” she said. It’s not the actual medals that are most meaningful to Kunkle. It’s the memories of how...
A-K Valley athletes of the week: Plum’s Serena Carnahan, Cade Schimmer
Serena Carnahan School: Plum Class: Senior Sport: Basketball Claim to fame: Carnahan, a guard/forward, scored 15 points in a 48-17 win over Gateway in Section 1-5A on Monday night. She followed that with a 14-point performance Thursday in a 46-37 win against another section foe, Fox Chapel. The Mustangs finish...
Shady Side Academy grad Izee Powell embracing challenges of Division I hockey
When looking at the statistics of the Dartmouth women’s hockey team from 2023-24, it’s hard not to notice that Shady Side Academy grad Izee Powell was fourth in scoring. The junior defenseman had her best season last year, scoring six goals, four on the power play, and had nine assists....
Latrobe swimmers speeding toward championship meets
When Latrobe swimming coach Grey Arrigonie was asked about the times for his swimmers last year, he offered up the following response: “There’s always room for improvement in swimming. It’s one of those sports where you can continue to get faster and faster.” This year, his swimmers just might hit...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Fox Chapel’s Bella Urso
When Fox Chapel senior guard Bella Urso first stepped on the high school basketball court, coach Marty Matvey wondered if Urso had a pulse. “She was quiet as a freshman,” Matvey said. “She’s sort of a reserved kid to begin with but had — and still has — one of...
Deer Lakes’ Ryan Grunden reaches 100 points for career, turns attention to playoff push
Before his game on the evening of Jan. 13 against Sewickley Academy, Deer Lakes hockey senior forward Ryan Grunden went through his normal pregame routine. He brought up YouTube videos of USA and college hockey players and watched how they skate, handle the puck and create shot opportunities. Then he...
A-K Valley athletes of the week: Kiski Area’s Ava Golding, Justin Tucker
Ava Golding School: Kiski Area Class: Junior Sport: Wrestling Claim to fame: Golding finished first in a tournament Jan. 25 at Butler, winning a 9-8 decision over Janayah Nobles of Connellsville in the 136-pound weight class. Golding began the day with a pin of Lydia Hull of Fort LeBoeuf, then...
Shady Side Academy grad Maeve Kelley looking to add to impressive swimming résumé at Amherst
When athletes step foot on to a college campus for their freshman season, there aren’t a lot of expectations for them to meet. They don’t feel burdened by pressures that stats or prior performances can sometimes provide. Whether they do well or not in that first year, there’s a hunger...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: St. Joseph’s Gabe Maltese
The St. Joseph boys basketball team is hovering around the .500 mark this season, which is a stark contrast to last season, when the Spartans finished 3-20 overall and 2-8 in section play. Senior guard Gabe Maltese said the turnaround is, in part, because of the leadership he and his...
Chartiers Valley wrestlers hitting their stride at right time
When speaking about his wrestlers and the season they’ve been having, Chartiers Valley coach Bill Evans brought up a quote he recently read: “Your culture is not words on a website or posted on the wall. It’s how your people feel on Sunday night.” The quote references how the members...
Chartiers Valley’s Domi Crowley vaulting to new heights
For someone who spends a lot of time in the air, Chartiers Valley senior pole vaulter Domi Crowley is very grounded. That’s because the humbling nature of his sport and the training involved. Crowley is training in a Monroeville warehouse with Danny Smith, one of several coaches he seeks guidance...
Mt. Pleasant swimming sweeps 2A titles at WCCAs; Franklin Regional boys, Latrobe girls win in 3A
In the final Westmoreland County Coaches Association swimming meet of their high school careers, the Mt. Pleasant senior quartet of Lily King, Kiersten O’Connor, David Mutter and Joseph Gardner went out in style Saturday. Three of the four set records as the Vikings boys and girls teams finished second out...
A-K Valley athletes of the week: Knoch’s Neah Ewing, Kiski Area’s Travis Shearer
Neah Ewing School: Knoch Class: Junior Sport: Basketball Claim to fame: Ewing led the Knights (8-8, 7-2) with 17 points in a 47-40 win over Burrell on Monday night. The junior guard then tallied 15 points in a 39-33 win versus Highlands on Thursday night. Both wins helped move Knoch...
Despite successes, Fox Chapel boys still working to put together best game
Fox Chapel boys basketball coach Zach Skrinjar is proud of his team for doing two things well this season. The first is watching his players come together as one. “This group has really grown together, built a camaraderie,” Skrinjar said. “We have had a good mix when it comes to...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Highlands’ Kyren Veasley
Whenever Highlands senior wrestler Kyren Veasley transferred from Valley two years ago, he had all the talent to be a great wrestler. “Kyren is one kid that I can honestly say, he’s a good wrestler no matter how he wrestles,” coach Grant Walters said. “Sometimes he’s a little more methodical....
Hempfield bowlers dominate WCCA tournament; Valley’s Diehm wins boys title
For the second year in a row, the Hempfield bowling team took three of the four championships handed out at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association championships Saturday at Hillview Lanes in Greensburg. Junior Ashley Bensur rolled a three-game score of 606 to secure the girls individual title after finishing fourth...
Fox Chapel hockey sharpening game as playoffs approach
It could be said that the Fox Chapel hockey team had reached a crossroads five games into the season. After suffering back-to-back one-goal losses against Canon-McMillan and Bishop McCort, the Foxes were 3-2 and were about to face always tough and talented Penn-Trafford. “That was the game we come back...
Pine-Richland swimmers working hard to reach goals
When asked what his expectations were for his Pine-Richland swimming team this season, coach Pete Barry said, “We don’t want to call them expectations. Setting expectations that are too high sets you up for a big fall.” Instead, Barry wants his team to focus on the goals they’ve set for...
With plenty of hockey left, Pine-Richland aiming for playoff spot
Flashback to a year ago and through 13 games, the Pine-Richland hockey team had 17 points and was in second place in the PIHL Class 3A standings and was a lock to make the playoffs. Last year’s squad went on to capture the Penguins Cup with a win over North...
A-K Valley athletes of the week: St. Joseph’s Gia Richter, Burrell’s Luke Boylan
Gia Richter School: St. Joseph Class: Senior Sport: Basketball Claim to fame: Richter scored 22 points in a 70-36 win over Section 1-A foe Springdale on Monday. The point guard also had 22 points and sank five 3-pointers in St. Joseph’s win against Sewickley Academy last Thursday. How did it...
Hempfield bowling rolling through season, sets lofty goals
The Hempfield bowling team enjoyed plenty of success in the 2023-24 season. The girls team finished first in its section with a 10-0 record and had sophomores Amelia Droste (first) and Ashley Bensur (fifth) seeded in the top five in the WPIBL individual tournament. Droste also finished as a WPIBL...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Valley’s Janelle Norman
At the midway point of the 2024-25 season, the Valley girls basketball team was 1-10. But there was no negativity among its coaches or players, particularly from senior captain and 6-foot-2 forward Janelle Norman. “Me and my teammates come out and play our hardest for the sport we love,” said...
A-K Valley athletes of the week: Springdale’s Ashlyn Ferderbar, Cheswick Christian’s Joe Rosio
Ashlyn Ferderbar School: Springdale Class: Senior Sport: Basketball Claim to fame: Ferderbar scored 16 points Wednesday night to help Springdale (7-7, 4-2) to a 32-29 section win over Sewickley Academy. The senior point guard then led all scorers with 18 points in the Dynamos’ 42-31 win over Western Beaver. The...
